Malinin Leads World Short Program with Record Performance Ilja Malinin secured the lead in the men’s short program at the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships following a dominant performance. The two-time world champion achieved a personal best score of 111.29 points, showcasing a complex jump combination. Malinin’s routine featured a key element – a successful salto – contributing significantly to his high score. The performance immediately established a substantial advantage over his competitors, with the closest challenger, Adam Siao Him Fad, trailing by nearly ten points. Fad concluded the short program with 101.85 points. Following his performance, Malinin stated, “I just went to have fun.” The result places Malinin firmly in the lead position heading into the free skate. The competition continues with athletes vying for the top spot, and observers will be watching closely to see if Malinin can maintain his advantage. Photography credit: Martin Divisek/EPA/Scanpix. Topics: #malinin #just #went Post navigation GRAPHIC ⟩ Gold turned out to be a rather nice piece of money during the crisis Mostly third-grade Finnish girl shares bed with partners, but she never agrees on one thing